Grant Winner Launches Strawberry Flavor Vodka with Help from Flourish Media Conference Speakers
When Taylor Jackson won the Flourish Media Small Business Grant in 2021, it helped her turn Redd Rose, her strawberry-lemonade Vodka company, into an established brand. In this interview, she shares how the grant impacted her business and the most important investments she made.
At Flourish Media we want to help the next generation of business women achieve their dreams. That mission will be on full display Feb. 17 - 18 at the Flourish Media Conference in Miami, FL, where we will offer tools and strategies for women entrepreneurs to learn tools and strategies to build successful online brands. Because our ethos is all about putting our money where our mouth is, we are celebrating this annual event by giving away three grants to emerging and established women entrepreneurs for $1,000 each. One grant will be given to a random ticket holder, so be sure to get your ticket here.
How did winning the business grant change the way you saw your business?
This was the first opportunity for Redd Rose to win something and it felt amazing! Everyone in the audience participated in selecting ReddRose! So many people loved Redd Rose and wanted to support the journey for the brand–people that we are still in contact with today! This win was the first of many, but gave us the confidence to know what we can accomplish and to keep pushing to make it to where we are today.
Why did you decide to apply?
When attending our first conference with Flourish we wanted to make our presence known in the marketplace in an intimate setting with women. What better place to do this than at FMC? I love everything that Flourish stands for and the work they have done in the community to help women flourish and thrive! I felt very confident and comfortable to be myself with these ladies. As we were only in the beginning stages of our brand we when applied we knew that Flourish would be a great place to start to get a foot in the market.
How has winning the FMC Small Business Grant improved your mindset around applying for other opportunities?
The most important mindset shift was confidence. This was the first group of women to taste Redd Rose, and they did so with open arms. I did not think people would be so open to tasting as the market is so saturated with liquor. I had no idea that these women were going to make me feel so powerful in knowing I have a successful concept. They encouraged me to keep pushing and grow in the market and I have done just that.
How has your business changed since the day you won the FMC Small Business Grant?
When I stood in front of 200 people and spoke about a company that was in the beginning stages it was just an idea I was putting into motion. This was my first time speaking publicly and my first time telling people about Redd Rose! Now, whenever I speak to people I think of that first time and think about how nervous I was. The confidence that I have today came from my first time at FMC!
What is your next big milestone within your business?
The next big milestone is expanding to more states. Redd Rose has grown tremendously in the Florida market thanks to the help of a few Flourish panel members who were at the conference. Adding on another state shows that we have the capacity to be a successful brand and create a powerful message.
What’s something you’ve been working on in your business that you want the world to know?
We have developed a new tool to help brands and business owners tell their stories. Redd Rose is working on multiple flavors and each flavor has a special story behind it.
Why should other women small businesses owners apply for the FMC Small Business Grant?
Apply Apply Apply! The fact that you applied is enough! That shows you are trying and you care about your business no matter how small or big the grant is, apply! You never know what you can get out of it and just being part of the Flourish community is monumental. Just keep pushing!
The Flourish Media Conference Small Business grant is open to anyone who identifies as a woman and is over the age of 21. Applicants must submit an executive summary, 90-day business plan to enter and upload a 30-second video to Facebook or Instagram. Apply here.
